A spokesperson for the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spoke highly of the encouraging progress in formulating the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. Mr. Luong Thanh Nghi responded to a reporter’s question on China’s positive attitude while discussing the Code during the recent ASEAN Summit in Indonesia: “Peace, stability, security and safe navigation in the East Sea are the shared interests of the region and all countries involved. Related parties should settle disputes by peaceful means with respect for international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Vietnam welcomes ASEAN and China’s commitment to continue fully honoring the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea toward the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.”

Regarding Vietnam’s major external affairs in the immediate future, Mr. Nghi said that Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Dang Huy Dong will attend a conference on international aid in South Korea later this month while Hanoi will host the 3^rd meeting of ASEAN natural resource ministers early next month.